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The Constant Gardener [DVD] [2005]
 
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The Constant Gardener [DVD] [2005]

DVD ~ Ralph Fiennes
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
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Product details

  • Actors: Ralph Fiennes, Donald Apiyo, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Bill Nighy
  • Directors: Fernando Meirelles
  • Format: PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Universal Pictures UK
  • DVD Release Date: 13 Mar 2006
  • Run Time: 129 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000B7QLLO
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 7,691 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

The Constant Gardener is the kind of thriller that hasn't been seen since the 1970s: Smart, politically complex, cinematically adventurous, genuinely thrilling and even heartbreaking. Mild diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes, The English Patient, Schindler's List) has a loose cannon of a wife named Tessa (Rachel Weisz, The Shape of Things, The Mummy), who's digging into the dirty doings of a major pharmaceutical company in Kenya. Her brutal murder forces Justin to continue her investigation down some deadly avenues.

This simple plot description doesn't capture the rich texture and slippery, sinuous movement of The Constant Gardener, superbly directed by Fernando Meirelles (Oscar-nominated for his first film, City of God). Shifting back and forth in time, the movie skillfully captures the engaging romance between Justin and Tessa (Fiennes shows considerably more chemistry with Weisz than he had with Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan) and builds a vivid, gripping, and all-too-justified paranoia. And on top of it all, the movie is beautiful, due to both its incredible shots of the African landscape (which at times is haunting and unearthly) and the gorgeous cinematography. Featuring an all-around excellent cast, including Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Pete Postlethwaite (In the Name of the Father), and Danny Huston (Silver City).--Bret Fetzer



Synopsis

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, whose previous film, City of God, won awards all over the world and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2004 Oscars has crafted another highly entertaining yet important film. Beautifully shot in Kenya, Germany, Sudan, Manitoba, and London, The Constant Gardener, based on a bestselling novel by John Le Carre, is an exciting mix of romance and spy thriller. Ralph Fiennes stars as Justin Quayle, a low-level British diplomat who has always gone about his work very quietly, not causing any problems. But after his radical wife, Tessa (Rachel Weisz), is killed, he becomes determined to find out why, thrusting himself into the middle of a very dangerous conspiracy. Jeffrey Caine's powerful screenplay alternates between flashbacks of Justin and Tessa's relationship and Justin's hunt for the truth, which makes him a target although he doesn't know who is after him. Fine support is offered by Danny Huston as his close friend and confidant, Sandy; Bill Nighy as shady British official Sir Bernard Pellegrin; and Hubert Kounde as Arnold Bluhm, an African doctor who might have been a little too friendly with Tessa. Meirelles's pacing is outstanding, switching effortlessly between political intrigue, action adventure, and love story. And Fiennes and Weisz give strong performances playing complex characters that will continually surprise the audience. The Constant Gardener is a thrilling tale from start to finish.

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Customer Reviews

107 Reviews
5 star:
 (45)
4 star:
 (25)
3 star:
 (13)
2 star:
 (13)
1 star:
 (11)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (107 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Real "Out of Africa", 16 Jul 2006
By Tim Bentley (Shetland, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
The Constant Gardner is a story woven about the life and death of the wife of a British Diplomat, Tessa Quayle (Rachel Weisz), and the unmasking of a conspiracy that threatens to cripple Anglo-Kenyan relations. Ralph Fiennes as the diplomat, Justin Quayle, exhibits classic, even stereo-typical British cool in investigating the real reasons for his young wife's demise, while showing an insight into the strains and pressures of ex-pat officialdom. Weisz appears throughout the film in flash back, but brings the 'right-on' Tessa to life.

Some truly undesirable notions are brought to the audience's attention, and the film doesn't particularly rose tint them, which just emphasises some of the realities of how we in the developed 'west' salve our guilt about sickness and poverty in Africa. Perhaps a mite condescending in the way it was depicted, maybe even a little patronising.

The novel's ending stopped a little short and left me wondering what would happen next, particularly in London, however, the movie takes Le Carres work and extends it a little to provide that information. This is a film I enjoyed and certainly appreciated being given it as a present. Not an easy movie by any measure and probably not the one to watch if you want light entertainment, but it will challenge your preconceptions and show you an Africa that falls between the old empire and pleas for foreign aid.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars You Cannot Hide, They Will Find You, 23 Mar 2006
By prisrob "pris," (New EnglandUSA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)      
Lorbeer:” Big pharmaceuticals are right up there with the arms dealers. I only give the food to the women, Mr. Black. Women make the homes; men just make wars ... and hooch. Adam was God's first draft - He got it right with Eve. Tell that to your readers, Mr. Black . Lorbeer, the doctor right on the fringe of Africa.

Fernando Meirelles tops his last directional effort with a thriller that is moving and scary in its views of big companies gone wrong and the horrors that they are willing to inflict on the innocent all for profit. He presents his view of Africa that is rarely seen in film and a sense of reality that is only found in real life.

Ralph Fiennes as Justin Quayle, midrange diplomats sent to Africa with his wife Rachel Weisz as Tessa Quayle. Justin has tended his own garden in Nairobi far too long to sense the danger and horror that is expanding beside him. His wife, Tessa, is a lawyer involved in the midst of seeking information about a drug being tested for Tuberculosis that has horrific side effects on its innocent victims. These victims when they die are all buried in a lonely place, all grouped together. Tessa is compiling the information needed and has sent a letter to Sir Bernard Pellegrin, played by Bill Nighy. At some point the letter is lost and Tessa turns up naked, dead and raped. Justin out to seek justice, and to find the details uncovers a plot that is unexpected and the danger and horror is exemplified in all of its ugliness. The beauty and the ugliness of Africa are outlined, and we feel the dirt and the need and the frenzy that encompasses a novel of John Lecarre's intensity.

Rachel Weisz won the Academy Awards: Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and it was well won. The British Independent Film Awards: British Independent Film Award for Best British Independent Film, Best Actor, Best Actress. For Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weiss these are the roles of their lifetime, and they more than live up to the challenge. This is the movie that offers John LeCarre’s best work. A talented writer, John LeCarre and a talented director, Fernando Meirelles have made one of the most entertaining and informative movies about the lust for power and money in our pharmaceutical companies. You will not look lightly at “the good night” and the big name companies after viewing this movie. You will feel the need to question what has been wrought. Highly recommended, prisrob 3-22-06

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential viewing, 30 Nov 2005
This is a simply spectacular film - a beautiful love story set against the stunning backdrop of Africa, entwined with the sinister, and all too real, practices of multinational drug companies - an absolute must see.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Constant Garbage
A film about someone constantly gardening for 2 hours would have been more exciting. Pete Postlethwaite's Afrikaans accent was painful. I love Africa, I used to live there. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nic

4.0 out of 5 stars Unscrupulous protection of business interests.
A breathtaking and very correct 'mise en scène' of business promotion at its most ruthless, western diplomacy dutifully feigning, human rights activities at its idealistic and the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Hans Boonen

4.0 out of 5 stars mesmerising
I hadn't heard much of this film when I bought it but it had a good cast so I decided it would be a good buy. How right I was! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Ms. F. I. Macdonald

1.0 out of 5 stars Constant Drivel
Do me a favour, I cannot believe that this film has such high aclaim. It fails to draw you in and get in touch with any of the characters. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Niz

3.0 out of 5 stars Great direction shame about the rest
I purchased this DVD knowing nothing much except I'd seen the name in the media and it starred Ralph Fiennes. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Elizabeth Taylor

3.0 out of 5 stars Well made, but a bit boring
Lots of critical acclaim for this Oscar and BAFTA nominated movie, but dare i suggest that it's actually a touch boring? Read more
Published 16 months ago by D. Brusca

5.0 out of 5 stars Great filmaking
This is not just an intelligent and thoughtful film, but an important film, a deeply moving film, a human film. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Michael Lavocah

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Average
There was nothing particuarly within this film to make it stand out. Watchable but very average.
Published 20 months ago by Natasha L

1.0 out of 5 stars Constant drivel
I bought this film from Amazon for the acolades it had received and the generally good rating Amazon reviewers gave it. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Matt

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful film with a very realistic portrayal!
This is a great movie with a sobering message. The showing in this movie of how Big Pharma uses poor African countries to test run their drugs before potentially releasing them... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Aeneas

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